I Scored an E in Math, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko Says

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko says he owes his success in business and politics to his late father.

In his inspirational speech at the Buru Buru Girls High School on Saturday, Sonko said the late Mzee Kivanguli equipped him with life skills at an early age, which have enabled him to fight his way to the elite class.

“I really salute my late father Mzee Kivanguli. May his soul rest in eternal peace. He taught me a lot,” he told students and parents at the school.

The flamboyant politician said he made his first million shilling while still in secondary school, thanks to his entrepreneurship skills. He said he earned the cash after a sweet land deal.

“Omar Mwasabuni in Diani was one of the first people who sold land to me and I sold it to a German national and I made good cash,” said Sonko when he launched the school’s new laboratory, library and swimming pool.

Sonko insisted on the importance of education and cautioned the students against depending on the parents' fortunes to succeed.

“You must strive to achieve anything. Life is not easy and always never give up. You should also always put God ahead of everything,” Sonko told students at the school.

“Don’t think of your family background, or what you ate last evening. Just focus on your life path. You are the future of this great country of ours,” he said.

Sonko said that although he did not perform well in school, he went ahead to pursue his life goals without giving up.

“I scored C+ in KCSE with an E in Maths . But I still became Makadara MP and I started my charity, assisting people, some of who even got better grades than I did in high school,” Sonko said.

The Governor, who was flanked by the County Executive member for education, gender and sports, Jane Ouko said he witnessed what he called God’s hand during the Makadara campaigns after overcoming hurdles placed on his way.

“My accounts were frozen. But I only believed in God. That’s why I sailed through. I closed down one of my clubs here because I value the future of our children,” he added.